Davis Cup 2024 Final preview and how to watch Netherlands vs Italy live
Will the Netherlands write history or can Italy become back-to-back champions? Find out everything you need to know about the 2024 Davis Cup Final in our one-stop guide.
Tennis
Who will be crowned champions of the world in the 2024 Davis Cup Final?
An exhilarating week of farewells, thrillers and passion in the men’s World Cup of tennis comes down to one last battle in Málaga, Spain.
The Netherlands are contesting their first final in the underdog story of the Davis Cup Final 8, where they will hope for former doubles world number one Wesley Koolhof, who will retire following the Davis Cup, to bow out on a high.
Italy meanwhile are chasing the winning feeling again, reaching their second consecutive final and aiming for a third world title. The defending champions, led by world number one Jannik Sinner, have been the team to beat all year long.
Find out everything you need to know about the 2024 Davis Cup and the grand season finale.
2024 Davis Cup Final – Netherlands chase first Davis Cup title
The Netherlands were the only team to reach the Davis Cup Final 8 who had never won the grand trophy, let alone reach the final.
Now they are in their first final and on the verge of a historic triumph, aiming to become the second team in three years (after Canada in 2022) to win their first Davis Cup.
It has been a tournament of Dutch defiance, first overcoming hosts Spain in a classic tie which put the Netherlands through to the semi-finals and ended Rafael Nadal’s professional career, followed by a 2-0 sweep of Germany in the final four.
“The key is the team effort and the belief in ourselves,” explained Dutch team captain Paul Haarhuis. “It was our goal to not lose in the quarter-finals for the third straight year, and we believed we could do it, even though we had a very tough draw with Spain.”
Indeed, it is a very strong collective including Dutch no. 1 Tallon Griekspoor and Botic van de Zandschulp, who defeated both Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz this week.
It would also be the perfect send-off for Koolhof, the 35-year-old doubles master who was decisive in their opening match. The Netherlands now stand on the verge of the greatest moment in Dutch tennis history.
The Netherlands celebrate reaching the Davis Cup final for the first time in Málaga, Spain.
2024 Davis Cup Final – Italy lie one step away from greatness
Rewind two years and Italy had only won the Davis Cup once almost 50 years ago. Now they lie on the verge of becoming the first nation to defend their title since Czechia (then the Czech Republic) in 2012-13.
Italy came into the 2024 edition as favourites thanks to Sinner’s superb form, and when former Grand Slam finalist Matteo Berrettini joined Paris 2024 bronze medallist Lorenzo Musetti in the squad late on, the Azzurri’s chances grew immensely.
They have shown their strength and depth, playing all three of their singles players thus far and making a late switch to play Sinner and Berrettini in the doubles.
However, it has unsurprisingly been the Sinner show, with the world number one winning all three matches without dropping a set in the road to the final.
“It’s going to be a tough encounter,” Sinner said ahead of the final, “It is a huge privilege to be apart of the final, we never take things for granted as a team. Anything can happen in the Davis Cup.”
Italy can cap off the perfect year in tennis, with Sinner becoming the first Italian to reach world number one and the nation also winning the Billie Jean King Cup earlier this week.
2024 Davis Cup Final – schedule and how to watch live
The Davis Cup final takes place at the Martin Carpena Arena on Sunday, 24 November, with play beginning at 4pm CET.
Dutch fans can watch the Netherlands' first Davis Cup final on Ziggo Sport, while Movistar holds the rights for the host nation and Tennis Channel in the United States.
Australian viewers can catch the action on both beIN Sports and Nine, while the rights in Italy are shared by Rai, Sky Italia and SuperTennis.
A full list of broadcasters for each country can be found on the official Davis Cup website.